Crocheters drape 150-ft scarf in downtown Detroit

A group of crocheters drew attention to the craft this weekend in the best way they know how, by hanging a giant 150-ft handmade scarf in downtown Detroit.

The Happy Hookers club draped the creation around Passo di Danza, a statue which heralds the entrance of One Woodward Avenue in the city centre, Detroit Free Press reports.

But the point of the stunt was not simply to highlight the amazing designs you can create with a crochet hook and a selection of colourful yarns. No, it was to shine light on the difficulties some Detroit residents have staying warm during the cold winter months.

After the scarf was removed, it was separated into 30 sections and donated to Detroit Central City Community Mental Health, an organisation which provides housing, healthcare and substance abuse treatments to adults in the area.

The scarves will go straight into its clothing and households good bank, which serves an average of 2,000 individuals each year.

Organiser, Christina Larson told the newspaper that she came up with the idea a few weeks ago when temperatures began to plummet.

The Happy Hookers group looked at the leftover yarn they had from other projects and chose to crochet large connecting squares, which could then be used to make an enormous scarf.

Word soon spread among the local community and around 30 sections were woven and ribboned together by volunteers.

Speaking of the city's mental health organisation, Ms Larson said she "thought they would have some use for it", once the scarf was completed.

After originally being taught to crochet by a neighbour when she was young, Ms Larson has since taught her friends, before eventually setting up the Happy Hooker group in Detroit.

As well as charity scarves, the club also help to provide donations of hats, scarves and gloves to the city's less fortunate residents.